Apparatus for detecting uncapped bottles



June 14, 1949.

c. c. GING RICH 2,472,945

7 APPARATUS FOR DETECTING UNCAPPED BOTTLES Filed Jan. 51, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1949- c. c. GINGRICH APPARATUS FOR DETECTING UNCAPPED BOTTLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1947 Patented June 14, 1949 APPARATUS FOR DETECTING UN CAPPED BOTTLES Clair (l. Gingrich, Kewanee, Ill. Application January 31, 1947, Serial No. 725,423

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to electronic control apparatus and has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved electronic bottle capping observer or detector, i. e., an apparatus for detecting uncapped bottles.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved apparatus for detecting uncapped bottles which is both simple and rugged in construction, and which is easily adjustable for various operating conditions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for detectin uncapped bottles including a single lightsensitive device, preferably a photo tube, and a pair of light sources so arranged relative to the photo tube and to bottles passing a detecting station that light from the first tube,- which normally strikes the photo tube, is intercepted by a bottle passing the station and so that light from the second source, which normally does not strike the photo tube, is reflected to the photo tube by a properly capped bottle but is not so reflected by an uncapped bottle.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph, including also an electron tube, preferably a gaseous discharge tube, the conductivity of which is controlled by the photo tube and which, in turn, controls suitable apparatus such as a warning signal or a conveyor drive moving bottles past the detecting station.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for detecting uncapped bottles wherein a normally nonconductive gaseous discharge tube is rendered conductive in response to the passage'of an uncapped bottle and the tube is thereafter maintained conductive or locked in until the ap-' paratus is again conditioned for operation by an operator.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of an embodiment thereof, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional View taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus and its associated circuits.

Referring now to the drawings, it may be noted that the apparatus for detecting uncapped bot= tles includes only a relatively few parts. Among the main components are a light-sensitive device l0, first and second light sources l2 and M, an electron tube control device It, and electromagnetic means l8 controlled by the tube and capable of exerting certain control functions which will be referred to hereinafter. The tube and electromagnetic means, as well as other parts, are preferably mounted within a cabinet 20 from which the light sources and photo tube may be adjustably supported.

The apparatus of the present invention is so constructed and arranged that it may be readily applied both to new and existing equipment. It

moved past a filling and capping station and such an application has been illustrated. In apparatus of this type the bottles 22 are moved by well known apparatus which may include a conveyor belt 24 movably supported upon a series of rollers 26 of which but one has been illustrated in Fig. 1 and driven by a motor (not shown).

In the usual bottle filling and capping machine, which is not provided with any apparatus for detecting uncapped bottles, the contents of the bottle are likely to be spilled, with a resulting delay in the operation. This diflicu'lty is avoided by the present apparatus which detects an uncapped bottle and which may be utilized to give an audi ble signal that a bottle has not been capped, or to stop the apparatus until the uncapped bottle is removed and the apparatus again manually restarted.

In accordance with one of the main features of the present invention, only a minimum of operating elements are required. For instance, only a single photo tube It! and two light sources are required. One of the light sources, the first light source !2, is located somewhat below the top of the bottle and in such relation to the tube that a passing bottle intercepts the normal passage of light from the light source to the photo tube. The second light source is located above the bottle in such relation to bottles passin the detecting station and the photo tube that a properly capped bottle reflects light from the light source to the photo tube. As a result, the amount of light reaching the photo tube is substantially unchanged when properly capped bottles pass the station but a considerable change occurs when an uncapped bottle is at the station.

The change in light reaching the photo tube in response to an uncapped bottle is utilized to change the conductive condition of the electron tube I6. The photo tube is normally in a certain operative condition-it is preferably arranged to maintain the tube I6 (preferably a gaseous discharge tube of the 2050 Thyratron type) nonconductive as long as it is supplied with light directly from the first light source or by reflection from the second light source. Thus, as long as properly capped bottles pass the detecting station, no change occurs in the control apparatus. However, when an uncapped bottle passes the station, no light reaches the photo tube and this absence of light results in the tube I6 being rendered conductive and operating the electro-magnetic means I8, and the latter is utilized to perform certain functions which will now be described in connection with Fig. 4.

The control circuit is supplied with power from a suitable source, preferably as from the conventional 110-volt alternating current power supply line, through conductors 38 and 32. The former has interposed in it a power switch 34 which is closed when it is desired to place the apparatus in operation. Conductor 32 is connected to the cabinet by a capacitor 33 (of about .1 mfd.). It is intended that conductor be connected to the hot side of the power line, so that use of the capacitor floats the cabinet and prevents blowing of a fuse in the case of incorrect connection.

When the switch is closed, the light sources I2 and I4 are energized, the former through an adjustable resistor 35 which is provided for a purpose to be described in greater detail hereinafter. At the same time, the primary winding 36 of a filament transformer 38 is energized. The secondary winding 48 of this transformer is connected directly to the cathode heater 42 of the tube I8. A pilot light 43 is disposed in the heater circuit to indicate the operative condition of the heater.

The control tube I6 has associated with it the usual anode 44, cathode 46, and control grid 48. The anode is connected to the power supply line 30 through an anode circuit switch 50, a relay winding 52 forming part of the electromagnetic means I8 and shunted by capacitor 53, conductor 54, a current limiting resistor 46, and conductor 58. The grid and cathode are connected to a potentiometer including the series connected resistors 60, 62, and 64. The cathode is connected by conductor 66 to the junction of resistors 62 and B4 and the grid is connected to resistor 62 by conductor 68, resistor III, and the adjustable potentiometer contact I2. The contact I2 is adjustable to vary the normal bias applied to the grid and thus to control the sensitivity of the apparatus.

The electromagnetic means I8 may be utilized to perform various functions and in accordance with another of the features of the present invention, it is utilized to lock in the control in response to the presence of an uncapped bottle to give a continuous indication or to keep the conveyor stopped until an attendant does something. The lock in is effected by a switch blade 14 operable to connect the grid 48 of tube I6 to a source of potential such that the tube is maintained conductive irrespective of the light supplied to the photo tube. The circuit closed by switch I4 includes the conductors l6 and I8 and a resistor 80 and it connects the grid to the movable potentiometer contact I2 thereby to make it sufficiently positive to maintain the tube conductive even though the detected uncapped bottle passes the detecting station or is removed.

In some installations and modes of operation it is desirable, as hereinafter pointed out, to render the lock-in feature ineffective. This is accomplished by the opening of a locking switch 8I in circuit with conductor 18.

In order to place the apparatus into operation after the bottle has been removed, it is necessary to open the anode switch 58, thereby to deenergize the winding 52 of the electromagnetic means and to permit the switch blade 14 to be returned to its normal position by suitable biasing means, such as a spring (not shown).

When the relay 52 operates in response to the presence of an uncapped bottle, it also energizes a signal light 82 by the closure of a second switch blade 84. At the same time, a third switch blade 86 opens a control circuit including the conductors 88 to deenergize the conveyor driving motor.

Before describing the operation of the apparatus as a whole, the mechanical construction of the device will be described. It should be understood that the physical construction may take various forms, although it is desirable, as will be pointed out hereinafter, that certain parts be adjustable in order to enable the apparatus to be used under various operating conditions.

The cabinet 28 is preferably utilized to house various of the component parts and also to support the light sources and photo tube. The various switches and adjustments are arranged to be accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, and as noted from Figs. 1 and 2, the switches 34, 5D and SI, the light and sensitivity controls 35 and 'I2, and pilot light 43 are all mounted upon the cabinet. The signal light 82 is preferably supported at the top of the cabinet adjacent a carrying handle 90. The locking switch BI is mounted at the rear of the cabinet.

The light sources and photo tube are adjustably mounted relative to the detecting station. The

first light source I2 is adjustably mounted to one side of the cabinet for movement to desired elevations, and also transversely relative to the conveyor belt and bottles moved by the latter. The mounting means preferably includes a plurality of relatively movable elbow-like fittings 92, 94 and 96, whichalso serve as a liquid-tight conduit for the conductors leading to the light source. The photo tube and second light source are similarly mounted at another side of the cabinet. The

photo tube, from which the light source I4 is movably supported, is secured to the end of a fitting I110. The fitting I00 is secured by fittings I02 and I04 to a short conduit 86 secured in turn to the coupled fittings I38 and III], the latter of which is secured to the upper end of a vertical conduit H2 secured by a fitting II4 to the cabinet. A supporting bracket I I6 is utilized to maintain the conduit H2 in its desired vertical position.

The light source I4 is preferably provided with an apertured shield II8 which is movable angularly about the mounting I20 by means of which it is adjustably secured to the photo tube. The mounting I28 has secured to it an upstanding arm I22 having a series of spaced-apart openings I24 whereby it can be secured as by a bolt I26 to a link I28 adapted to be secured by a screw bolt I33 in angularly adjusted position to a lug I32 integral with a clamp I34 encircling a photo tube housing I38, which is preferably made of glass and which is surrounded at its outer end by a light shield I38. The shield I38 wards out extraneous light and allows only the controlling light to act upon the photo tube, the controlling light entering through light. The light is secured to a eg zegess the aperture I 40, see Fig.3;- The photo tube his so mounted within the: envelope l36 that its cathode Hi2 facesthe opening Mil while th anode M4 is located between the cathode and the aperture.

While a particularly adjustably arrangement of the light sources and photo-tube has been illustrated and described, other arrangements can be used. For instance, these three elements can be constructed as a unit which is adjustable as a whole relative to the top of a capped bottle and which unit is independent of the cabinet. An arrangement of this character enables the'cabinet with its controls to be located at some distance from the light and photo tube unit, thereby to give the apparatus greater flexibility.

Arrangements other than those illustrated and described can also be utilized to ward on extraneous light. For example, a lens system can be used in connection with the photo tube and the two light sources and photo tube may be more or less enclosed b light impervious material.

To place the apparatus in operation, the switch 34 is closed to energize the light sources and controlsl. Assuming that no bottle is at the detecting station, light from the first source i2 strikes the photo tube with the result that the latter is in a more conductive condition, thereby to make the grid 48 sufficiently negative to maintain the tube l6 nonconductive. The winding 52 is thus deenergized and the switch blades it, t land 85 are all in their indicated positions. Under these conditions the conveyor driving motor operates to move the belt and to move bottles past the detecting station.

As long as properly capped bottles pass the detecting station no change occurs in the control. This results from the fact that when no bottle is at the station, light from the first light source 12 strikes the photo tube so that the grid 48 of tube It is maintained sufiiciently negative to prevent the tube from becoming conductive. When a properly capped bottle passes the detecting station, light from the first source is prevented from reaching the photo tube by the bottle, but light from the second light source It is reflected to the photo tube and the latter maintains the tube in its nonconductive condition.

When an uncapped bottle passes the detecting station no light reaches the photo tube because the bottle intercepts light from the first source and there is no cap on the bottle to reflect light to the photo tube from the second source. .As a result, the photo tube becomes less conductive and eiTectively constitutes a higher resistance and the grid 48 of the tube is made more positive and to an extent sufiicient to render the tube l6 conductive. The winding 52 is thus energized by current flowing through it and through the tube during alternate half cycles and the winding is prevented from being deenergized by the capacitor 53 connected in shunt therewith.

When the relay winding is energized, the switch blades i l, 84, and B6 are operated. The switch 14 serves to connect the grid 48 to a point of more positive potential, thereby to maintain the tube conductive even though light should reach the photo tube Iii. The relay is locked in in this manner until the relay switch 50 is opened. The closure of the switch 34 energizes the signal 82 which is illustrated as being a visual signal but which could be an audible signal as well. The motor is deenergized by the opening of the switch 86, thereby to prevent further movement of the conveyor. The motor is thus deenergized until the anode switch is opened temporarily to deenergize the winding 52.

The sensitivity of the apparatus is controlled by adjustment of: the potentiometer contact 12. The spread between the minimum and maximum sensitivity obtainable by adjustment of contact 12 is widened by use of the adjustable resistor 35 in series with the first light source. This resistor may be adjusted so that the potentiometer adjustment is at a mid point to offset minimum and maximum extraneous light which might impinge upon the photo tube and also to overcome theefiect of slight drops in supply line voltage. Ordinarily, the photo tube receives more light from the first light source than from the second because the latter is reflected light. With the resistor: the light sources. can'be made of more even intensity-in so far as the photo tube is concerned.

The lock-in feature is not required incertain cases. For instance, in the event the control circuit 88' is part of a motor stop circuit, associated with a motor having a separate start circuit, then the lock-in feature is neither necessary nor desired. In this case it is also preferable to have the capacitor 53 of a value such as to delay the reclosing of the switch 66 for a time interval.

The lock-in feature is, however, desired in the-event the switch 86 controls directly the motor circuit. It is also desired when a continuous signal is wanted, especially an audible signal.

The lock-in circuit is also desirable when the bottles pass the detecting station at a rate so high that the motor stopping means would not operate in the time takenby a, bottle to pass the station.

While 'but a single embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that the details thereof are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A control for detecting uncapped bottles passing a detecting station including a first light source, a light sensitive device so located relative to said source and a capped or uncapped bottle passing said station that the bottle itself intercepts the normal passage of light from said source to said device, a second light source so located relative to said device and a capped bottle passing said station that light from said source is reflected by the bottle cap to said device, 2. normally nonconductive grid controlled gas tube, means including grid biasing means connecting said light sensitive device to said gas tube for rendering said tube conductive when an uncapped bottle passes said station and no reflected light reaches said device, a relay in the output circuit of said gas tube adapted to be operated from one position to another when said tube is rendered conductive, and means operable by said relay for supplying said gas tube with a constant bias sufiicient to maintain said tube conductive until said output circuit is broken.

2. A control for detecting uncapped bottles passing a detecting station including a first light source, a photo tube so located relative to said source and a capped or uncapped bottle passing the detecting station that the bottle intercepts light normally passing from said source to said tube, a second light source so located relative to said tube and a capped bottle passing the detecting station that the cap of the capped bottle reflects light from said second light source to said tube, an electron tube controlled by said photo tube, means connecting said electron tube to said photo tube so that its conductive condition changes when an uncapped bottle reaches the station, and means including switch means controlling the bias of said tube for maintaining said tube in its said changed conductive position.

3. A control for detecting uncapped bottles passing a detecting station including a first light source, a photo tube so located relative to said source and a capped or uncapped bottle passing the detecting station that the bottle intercepts light normally passing from said source to said tube, a second light source so located relative to said tube and a capped bottle passing the detecting station that the cap of the capped bottle reflects light from said second light source to said tube, the reflected light being the same as the light from the first light source, a gas discharge tube having a grid, anode and cathode, means including electrical connections from said photo tube to said grid for maintaining said tube nonconductive when light from either of said sources reaches said tube whereby said tube is maintained nonconductive during the time that no bottle is at said station or when a capped bottle passes it but is rendered conductive when an uncapped bottle passes the station, electromagnetic control means in the anode-cathode circuit of said gas discharge tube adapted to be operated when the tube is rendered conductive, control means operable by said electromagnetic means for maintaining said tube conductive and said electromagnetic means operative once the tube has been rendered conductive, and means for selectively rendering the last said mentioned means effective or ineffective.

4. A control for detecting uncapped bottles passing a detecting station including a first light source, a light sensitive device so located relative to said source and a capped or uncapped bottle passing said station that the bottle intercepts the normal passage of light from said source to said device, a second light source so located relative to said device and a capped bottle passing said station that light from said source is reflected by the bottle cap to said device, a grid controlled electron tube having its conductivity controlled by said photo tube, means including manually adjustable means for supplying and varying the bias supplied to the grid of said tube, and means for adjusting the relative intensities of said two light sources.

CLAIR C. GINGRICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,943,278 Thompson et a1 Jan. 9, 1934 1,945,395 Cockrell Jan. 30, 1934 2,014,786 Shepard Sept. 17, 1935 2,099,764 Touceda Nov. 23, 1937 2,248,611 Cockrell July 8, 1941 2,280,948 Gulliksen Apr. 28, 1942 2,292,145 Mercereau Aug. 4, 1942 2,309,329 Powers Jan. 26, 1943 2,323,636 Weathers July 6, 1943 2,383,313 Hoffman et al Aug. 21, 1945 2,416,595 Reynolds Feb. 25, 1947 

